Ibrahimovic in Awkward Reunion With Guardiola After Their Relationship Broke Down at Barcelona

Ibrahimovic in Awkward Reunion With Guardiola After Their Relationship Broke Down at Barcelona

  • Italian giants AC Milan defeated Premier League champions Manchester City 3-2 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday evening
  • Before the encounter at Yankee Stadium in New York, Man City manager Pep Guardiola met with legendary AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic
  • Guardiola and Ibrahimovic worked together in Spain about a decade ago at Barcelona and they did not get on well

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a brief reunion with his former Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, before AC Milan’s pre-season match against Manchester City.

The Swedish star, who now serves as a senior advisor to AC Milan's ownership and management, had a tumultuous relationship with Guardiola during their one season together.

Ibrahimovic in awkward reunion with Pep Guardiola after their relationship broke down at Barcelona
Zlatan Ibrahimovic played under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona during the 2009/10 season. Photo by Lluis Gene.
Source: Getty Images

The ex-Manchester United forward and Guardiola have not seen eye-to-eye since the former AC Milan forward and the Manchester City manager fell out during their time at Barcelona.

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In his 2013 autobiography, I Am Zlatan, Ibrahimovic referred to Guardiola as a “spineless coward”, among other criticisms, while reflecting on Barcelona's infamous Champions League exit to Inter Milan.

Ibrahimovic and Pep's awkward reunion in the USA

Over a decade after his time at Camp Nou, the AC Milan legend encountered the Spanish gaffer while exploring Yankee Stadium in New York.

In a video shared on social media, Guardiola approached Ibrahimovic, and the two shared a brief conversation before the pre-season match between Manchester City and AC Milan.

Ibrahimovic, who had previously claimed that Guardiola "hid from him" in the dressing room after a game, scored 22 goals in 46 appearances for Barcelona before moving permanently to AC Milan in 2011.

Despite this, their relationship remained strained. In 2017, Ibrahimovic remarked:

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Ibrahimovic poses with Haaland

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Ibrahimovic was at his charismatic best when he met up with Erling Haaland.

After the City's friendly game against Milan,, an off-the-pitch moment involving Ibrahimovic and the Norway international stole the spotlight, as cited by Goal.

Haaland presented Ibrahimovic with a signed City home jersey, and the Swedish legend remarked that they needed "no filters" when posing for photos together.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Ibrahim Sofiyullaha avatar

Ibrahim Sofiyullaha (Editorial Assistant) Ibrahim Sofiyullaha is a graduate of First Technical University, Ibadan. He was the founder and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of a fast-rising campus journalism outfit at his university. Ibrahim is a coauthor of the book Julie, or Sylvia, written in collaboration with two prominent Western authors. He was ranked as the 9th best young writer in Africa by the International Sports Press Association. Ibrahim has contributed insightful articles for major platforms, including Sportskeeda in the UK and Motherly in the United States. Email: ibrahim.sofiyullaha@corp.legit.ng